Styling Size-Up: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider vs. 2016 Mazda Miata

Fiat Chrysler partnered with Mazda so it could use its fourth-gen Miata platform to underpin the latest offering from Fiat, the 124 Spider. And while these two roadsters may be based off the same platform, the design of the two models has been the topic of much discussion. Both automakers took the vehicles in different directions in terms of styling, with the Fiat drawing inspiration from the rounded appearance seen on its current lineup, and Mazda taking a more angular approach. But one question remains: who did it better?

Looking just at the front end of the 2016 Mazda Miata and 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, the differences are obvious. The Miata features a more sculpted appearance with sharp lines seen in the headlight design, side vents, and hood. The singular Kodo grille is characteristic of the rest of the Mazda lineup, and when the aforementioned elements combine it creates an aggressive appearance. The Fiat on the other hand, has a rounded headlight appearance, an upper and lower grille, and DRLs and foglights that sit just to the sides of the lower grille.

Despite these two roadsters not sharing any sheetmetal, you can still see similarities in the side profile. The Miata features sharp lines, while the 124 Spider offers up more sculpting including a strong character line running from the hood over the door handle. If the Fiat looks longer that's because it is. The 124 Spider is 5.5 inches longer overall thanks to longer front and rear overhangs. The rear deck is also slightly higher and wider, granting more trunk space.

At the back, it's night and day. The Spider's rear deck dips in the middle, much like it did on the original 124 and the Pininfarina-designed Chevrolet Corvette Rondine concept. The taillights are very different, with the Fiat featuring an angled-in square design with an inner and outer ring of lights. The Miata, on the other hand, has rounded brake lights. The tailpipes are also different, with the Mazda's exhaust exiting on the right side, and the Fiat featuring a dual exhaust setup.

Inside, the two roadsters are nearly identical. Both the 124 Spider and Miata feature rounded air vents, positioned in the same place, rounded controls for the HVAC, the same layout for the shifter and drive mode selector. The same infotainment screen stands atop the dash on each car, and the steering wheels are also identical, minus the different badges. The seats, however, do differ. The Mazda seats feature a center crease, while the Fiat has rows of creases running the full length of the seat.

Short Shifts

View All

From the Press Room: Meet Clint Robertson of Boise Boys

From the Press Room: Meet Clint Robertson of Boise Boys 02:11

9 Reasons Why Grave Digger Is the OG Monster Truck

9 Reasons Why Grave Digger Is the OG Monster Truck 02:20

The Breakdown: How Did We Choose the Best $50K Sports Sedan?

The Breakdown: How Did We Choose the Best $50K Sports Sedan? 04:54

10 Reasons Why the Aston Martin AM-RB 003 Dazzled at Geneva

10 Reasons Why the Aston Martin AM-RB 003 Dazzled at Geneva 01:29

First Test: 2020 Mazda3

First Test: 2020 Mazda3 01:50

From the Press Room: the New 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

From the Press Room: the New 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 01:35

How To Tune-Up a 1969 International Scout: Part 1

How To Tune-Up a 1969 International Scout: Part 1 04:54

8 Reasons Why the McLaren 600LT Spider Is so Lust-Worthy

8 Reasons Why the McLaren 600LT Spider Is so Lust-Worthy 01:44

What You Missed: Luftge-what?

What You Missed: Luftge-what? 02:08

5 Cool Things: The 2020 McLaren GT

5 Cool Things: The 2020 McLaren GT 01:10

8 Reasons Why the Honda e Should Come to the US

8 Reasons Why the Honda e Should Come to the US 01:18

Aston Martin Is Building 25 “Brand New” DB5s

Aston Martin Is Building 25 “Brand New” DB5s 01:40

The Press Room: 2019 Ford Shelby GT 350

The Press Room: 2019 Ford Shelby GT 350 01:25

Walk the Shop: Terrible Herbst Motorsports

Walk the Shop: Terrible Herbst Motorsports 03:34

8 Reasons Why the 2019 Mazda3 Is an Upscale Compact Car

8 Reasons Why the 2019 Mazda3 Is an Upscale Compact Car 01:15

Ad Time Remaining:

Up Next

CANCEL

NEXT UP

SORT BY

RecentTrending

From the Press Room: Meet Clint Robertson of Boise Boys

9 Reasons Why Grave Digger Is the OG Monster Truck

The Breakdown: How Did We Choose the Best $50K Sports Sedan?

10 Reasons Why the Aston Martin AM-RB 003 Dazzled at Geneva

First Test: 2020 Mazda3

From the Press Room: the New 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

How To Tune-Up a 1969 International Scout: Part 1

8 Reasons Why the McLaren 600LT Spider Is so Lust-Worthy

What You Missed: Luftge-what?

5 Cool Things: The 2020 McLaren GT

8 Reasons Why the Honda e Should Come to the US

Aston Martin Is Building 25 “Brand New” DB5s

The Press Room: 2019 Ford Shelby GT 350

Walk the Shop: Terrible Herbst Motorsports

8 Reasons Why the 2019 Mazda3 Is an Upscale Compact Car

While the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider and 2016 Mazda Miata may share the same platform, the two roadsters have very different designs. Which one do you think has the better design? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week's edition of Refreshing or Revolting featured the 2017 Cadillac XT5, and the comments skewed more toward the positive.

"Refreshing. It looks conservative yet elegant without crazy lines like the Japanese vehicles," said FreewayMan.

"Both. Everything is refreshing until that hood and grill. It's very reminiscent of a lifted and pulled Sebring in that respect. I wouldn't buy one," said RPIbaldum.

"Refreshing, but not exciting. A definite improvement but I think it could have been so much more. Still waiting for design cues from the Ciel and Elmiraj concept cars to work their way into the Caddy design language," said CarNut2014.

"Refreshing, but nothing to write home about. The SRX was great-looking at the time of its second-gen redesign, but it's gotten way behind the times, behind Cadillac as a brand, and the industry itself. This one is definitely nicer, but breaks no ground the way the NX and MKC do stylistically," said Jnn575.